Microscopic optical comparison device

ABSTRACT

A microscopic optical comparison device in which objects to be compared are arranged in side by side relation and when viewed through a binocular microscope system are caused to appear as one object with each object being viewed by a respective one of the observers eyes. The objects are intermittently and successively illuminated from a substantially point source of light which is intercepted by a rotating shutter to first block the light from one of the objects following which it blocks the light from the other object. Differences in the objects being compared appear as pulses of the missing detail of the object.

United States Patent [191 Craig I i MICROSCOPIC OPTICAL COMPARISONDEVICE 1969, abandoned.

[52] US. Cl ..350/30, 356/168 [51] Int. Cl. ..G02b 21/20 [58] Field ofSearch ..350/30, 141, 275; 356/168, 356/162,163,156, 164,165

[56] I References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,203,308- 8/1965 Brighamet al. ..350/30 X 3,415,998 12/1968 Crockett et a1 ....350/275 X3,328,109 6/1967 Seedhouse ..350/36 [451 Jan. 30, 1973 OTHERPUBLICATIONS Pope et 211., Article in Review of Scientific InstrumentsVol. 37 No.3 Mar. 1966 pgs. 377 & 378

Primary Examiner-David H. Rubin Att0rneyBirch, Swindler, McKie & Beckett[5 7] ABSTRACT A microscopic optical comparison device in which objectsto be compared are arranged in side by side relation and when viewedthrough a binocular microscope system are caused to appear as one objectwith each object being viewed by a respective one of the observers eyes.The objects are intermittently and successively illuminated from asubstantially point source of light which is intercepted by a rotatingshutter to first block the light from one of the objects following whichit blocks the light from the other object. Differences in the objectsbeing compared appear as pulses of the missing detail of the object.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJANBOIQYS 3.713.720 sum 1 or 2 [NVEN TOR.

DWI/V Fr. CRAIG PATENTEDJAH 30 1975 SHEET 2 BF 2 INVENTOR. DWI/V R.c/m/a MICROSCOPIC OPTICAL COMPARISON DEVICE CROSS REFERENCE-TO RELATEDvAPPLICATIONS The present invention is a continuation-in-part of myco-pending application Ser. No. 803,250 filed Feb. 28, 1969 nowabandoned, on an Optical Comparison Device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The inventionrelates to the microscopic optical comparison of two objects,photographs, drawings and the like, wherein one of the objects iscompared to a standard object to determine .if any differences existbetween the objects being compared with the dif ference beingidentifiable by observation.

2. Description of the Prior Art In prior art microscopic opticalcomparison devices such as the Patent to Wilkinson 2,674,152 a singleobject is viewed by both eyes of the observer and compared to side byside positioned stereo pictures of a standard specimen with nosuperimposition taking place. Wilkinson provides no means for causing aflicker when differences exist between the standard object and theobject compared therewith.

Other prior art microscopic optical comparison devices superimpose theimages into a single eye piece to be viewed by one eye of the observer.When viewed through a beam splitter system and a single eye piece thetwo objects must be exactly placed in perfect geometric alignment toproduce a fused image. Minute registration differences within theobjects will produce a flicker that confuses the observer looking forreal differences.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to amicroscopic optical comparison device in which a standard object isarranged in side by side relation to an object to be compared to thestandard with the two objects being separately viewed through the sideby side microscopes of a binocular microscope system. The microscopesare adjusted so that the two images from the two objects are fused bythe observers brain, into a single image. A point source of lightilluminates the objects and a revolving shutter intermittantly andalternately interrupts the light from the point source of light to thetwo objects so that differences between the standard and the objectbeing compared to the standard will appear as pulsations in the fusedimage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the invention shown partially broken awayand in section for convenience of illustration; and

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2looking in the direction of the arrows.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings indetail wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughoutthe several figures the reference numeral l0 indicates generally amicroscopic optical comparison device constructed in accordance with theinvention.

The optical comparison device 10 includes a base 11 having a microscopemount 12 secured theretoby a horizontal pivot 13. The microscope mount12 has a block 14 secured thereon for vertical adjustment by means ofhand wheels 15, 16 in a conventional manner. A pair of plates 17, 18 arerigidly secured to the block 14 in spaced apart parallel relation.

A conventional microscope barrel 19 is secured to the plate 18 by meansof a horizontal friction pivot 20 to permit the barrel 19 to beangularly adjusted with respect to the vertical. A second conventionalmicroscope barrel 21 is similarly secured to the plate 17. Themicroscope barrel 19 includes an eye piece 22 and turret lenses 23 toform a complete microscope. The microscope barrel 21 includes an eyepiece 24 and a turret lens system 25 to form a complete microscope.

A generally rectangular platform 26 is secured to the mount 12 andextends generally perpendicularly to a plane extending through the axesof the barrels 19, 21. A housing 27 is secured to the platform 26 at theend thereof opposite the barrels 19, 21.

A projection lamp barrel 28 is supported on an adjustable support 29carried by the platform 26 with the barrel 28 extending through the rearof the housing 27. The projection lamp barrel 28 has a projection lampsocket 30 mounted therein for adjustment generally horizontally andvertically within the barrel 28. Adjustment screws 31, 32 are providedfor moving the socket 30 in a conventional manner. A light bulb 33 is'mounted in the base 30 within the barrel 28 and has a filament 34 whichapproximates a point source of light. A lens 35 is mounted in the innerend of the barrel 28 to direct the light from the bulb 33 on the objects36, 37 mounted on the platform 26. The lens 35 may be focused in aconventional manner by a hand control (not shown) to provide the desiredlight.

An upright electric motor 38 is mounted beneath the platform 26 in thehousing 27 and has a shaft 39 extending upwardly through the platform 26carrying a shaft 40 on its upper end. The shaft 40 carries a generallyrectangular single vane shutter 41 which is rotated by the electricmotor 38, the speed of which is conventionally adjustable by manualcontrol M. The shaft 40 projects through the top of the housing 27 andhas a hand control knob 42 on its upper end to permit the shutter vane41 to be moved to the position illustrated in FIG. 3.

A lamp. control box 43 contains a transformer (not shown) and a lampvoltage controller 44. A volt meter 46 indicates the voltage across thelamp 33. The switch 45 is provided for bypassing the controller toprovide momentary maximum brightness to the lamp 33.

In the operation of the microscopic optical comparison device 10 anobject 36 is positioned beneath the barrel l9 and a object 37 ispositioned beneath the barrel 21. The barrels 19, 21 are angularlyadjusted until the eye pieces 22, 24 are spaced properly for the twoeyes of the observer. The objects 36, 37 are then positioned so thatthey fuse into a single object when viewedthrough the eye pieces 22, 24.The light 33 is on during the adjusting of the objects 36, 37 and theshutter vane 41 is manually positioned by knob 42 to the positionillustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 so that both object 36 and object 37 arefully illuminated. After the objects 36, 37 have been properlypositioned the light is adjusted until the desired lighting of theobjects 36, 37 is obtained. The object 36 or the object 37 will be astandard object and the remaining object will be one that is beingchecked against the standard.

,The motor 38 is then energized and permitted to rotate at a relativelyslow speed, on the order of 50 RPM, so that the vane 41 first interruptsthe light passing to the object 36, then permits light to pass to bothobjects, then interrupts the light to object 37, and then again permitslight to reach both object 36 and object 37. As the vane 41 continues torotate any differences existing between object 36 and object 37 willappear and disappear in a pulsing action, such as to draw the attentionof the observer thereto, immediately, when viewing the objects 36, 37.The intermittant simultaneous lighting of both objects during a smallportion of each cycle permits the brain to retain the fusing of theimages.

Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention itshould be understood that numerous structural modifications andadaptations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

What is claimed is:

1. A binocular microscopic optical comparison device including first andsecond microscopes mounted inside by side relation, platform means forsupporting first and second objects in spaced apart aligned relation,said first microscope providing a view of only said first object, saidsecond microscope providing a view of only said second object, saidfirst and second microscopes having respective eyepieces spaced forbinocular viewing by an observer, whereby the two views are fused by theobserver's brain into a single image, illuminating means aligned withsaid platform means for illuminating said first and second objects, anda single vane cyclically driven shutter positioned between saidilluminating means and said platform means, said shutter having its axisof rotation positioned centrally of the light beam from saidilluminating means, so that on each cycle of rotation the light to thefirst object is obstructed, then both objects are illuminated, and thenthe light to the second object is obstructed, the simultaneous viewingof both objects during portions of each cycle enabling the observer'sbrain to maintain image fusion while still detecting dif-,

ferences between the two objects by pulsations of the fused image.

2. A comparison device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the axis ofrotation of said shutter is at right angles to the path of the lightbeam from said illuminating means.

3. A comparison device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said shutter issubstantially rectangular.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein an electric motor drives saidshutter and means are provided for varying the speed of said electricmotor.

1. A binocular microscopic optical comparison device including first andsecond microscopes mounted inside by side relation, platform means forsupporting first and second objects in spaced apart aligned relation,said first microscope providing a view of only said first object, saidsecond microscope providing a view of only said second object, saidfirst and second microscopes having respective eyepieces spaced forbinocular viewing by an observer, whereby the two views are fused by theobserver''s brain into a single image, illuminating means aligned withsaid platform means for illuminating said first and second objects, anda single vane cyclically driven shutter positioned between saidilluminating means and said platform means, said shutter having its axisof rotation positioned centrally of the light beam from saidilluminating means, so that on each cycle of rotation the light to thefirst object is obstructed, then both objects are illuminated, and thenthe light to the second object is obstructed, the simultaneous viewingof both objects during portions of each cycle enabling the observer''sbrain to maintain image fusion while still detecting differences betweenthe two objects by pulsations of the fused image.
 1. A binocularmicroscopic optical comparison device including first and secondmicroscopes mounted inside by side relation, platform means forsupporting first and second objects in spaced apart aligned relation,said first microscope providing a view of only said first object, saidsecond microscope providing a view of only said second object, saidfirst and second microscopes having respective eyepieces spaced forbinocular viewing by an observer, whereby the two views are fused by theobserver''s brain into a single image, illuminating means aligned withsaid platform means for illuminating said first and second objects, anda single vane cyclically driven shutter positioned between saidilluminating means and said platform means, said shutter having its axisof rotation positioned centrally of the light beam from saidilluminating means, so that on each cycle of rotation the light to thefirst object is obstructed, then both objects are illuminated, and thenthe light to the second object is obstructed, the simultaneous viewingof both objects during portions of each cycle enabling the observer''sbrain to maintain image fusion while still detecting differences betweenthe two objects by pulsations of the fused image.
 2. A comparison deviceas claimed in claim 1, wherein the axis of rotation of said shutter isat right angles to the path of the light beam from said illuminatingmeans.
 3. A comparison device as claimed in claim 2, wherein saidshutter is substantially rectangular.